The Family Jewels (film)
| The Family Jewels | |
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| Directed by | Jerry Lewis |
| Produced by | Jerry Lewis |
| Written by | Jerry Lewis Bill Richmond |
| Starring | Jerry Lewis Sebastian Cabot |
| Music by | Pete King |
| Cinematography | W. Wallace Kelley |
| Editing by | John Woodcock |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 1, 1965 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Family Jewels is a 1965 American comedy film. It was filmed from January 18-April 2, 1965 and was released by Paramount Pictures on July 1, 1965. The film was co-written, directed, and produced by Jerry Lewis who also played seven roles in the film. Lewis' co-star, Donna Butterworth, made only one other film, Paradise, Hawaiian Style, with Elvis Presley.
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[edit] Plot
Donna Peyton (Donna Butterworth) is a ten-year-old girl who inherits a $30,000,000 fortune when her millionaire industrialist father passes away. Per terms of his will, Donna must choose between her six uncles (all played by Jerry Lewis) to become her new "father." Lewis also plays Willard Woodward, the family chauffeur who takes Donna to all of her uncles to stay with them for two weeks. Donna's Uncles are-
- James Peyton, a ferryboat captain; her father's oldest brother who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
- Everett Peyton, a famous circus clown who hates kids and moves to Switzerland where he saved his money to avoid taxes.
- Julius Peyton, a professional photographer who photographs female models.
- Captain Edward "Eddie" Peyton, a pilot based out of Los Angeles, California who owns his own airline ("Eddie's Airways, the Airline for the Birds") consisting of one plane, a Ford Trimotor.
- Skylark Peyton, a Sherlock Holmes-esque detective who loves tea and lived in England until he lost his passport and decided to move back to the United States. He is accompanied by his faithful companion, Dr. Matson (Sebastian Cabot) but Skylark pays more attention to a pool game in Robert Strauss's pool parlour than to Donna.
- Bugsy Peyton, a gangster who everyone thought was killed by the mob. Only interested in Donna's inheritance, he kidnaps her. Using the assets of a political campaign promotion for a politician named Abner Theft that is near their hideout, Willard attempts to rescue Donna by comandeering the sound truck and impersonating the leader of a military drill team participating in the campaign. This frightens the kidnappers into believing they are facing a platoon of armed soldiers.
The more time she spends with her uncles, Donna realizes that Willard should really be her father and that he was a father towards her even when her real father was still alive and was too busy to spend time with her.
Unfortunately the lawyers will not allow her to choose Willard, insisting that she must choose from one of her uncles. At the last minute, Everett, who is really Willard in disguise, comes to ask her to choose him. She does and the two live happily ever after.
[edit] Film notes
- In the film Lewis listens to his son Gary Lewis and the Playboys singing This Diamond Ring. In a later scene, the group appear as the in-fight entertainment on Eddie Peyton's Ford Tri-motor.
- The in flight movie on the Ford Tri-motor features Gerald Mohr and Anne Baxter.
- The character of Julius Peyton is virtually a carbon copy of Professor Julius Kelp from The Nutty Professor. Similar characters appeared in Rock-A-Bye Baby and The Big Mouth.
[edit] Connections to other Jerry Lewis films
The clown makeup used by one of Lewis' characters was devised by Jerry Lewis for 3 Ring Circus. It was reused by Lewis a second time in Hardly Working.
[edit] Home media release
The DVD was released on October 12, 2004.
[edit] External links
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